Abdullah Kassir

Dr. ABDULLA SULAIMAN KASSIR

(1887- 1978)

PROFILE

• Born 1887 in Mosul, Nineveh Province, Iraq to Sulaiman Agha Kassir and Hinna (Mama Hinna) Abdulnoor.

• Completed his elementary education at the French Dominican Mission in Mosul and worked for his father in agriculture management till the age of 15.

• He completed his intermediate and secondary education in Mardin, Turkey and preparatory course at the Protestant Academy in Beirut prior to entering The School of Medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1909.

• In 1914, one year prior to finishing his medical studies, he was ordered to serve in the Turkish army as a doctor during World War 1. He was sent with the Third Regiment to the Russian front, Yervan, Armenia then to southern Iraq where the British Army was besieged by the Turks. After the British surrender he was assigned to escort the British prisoners as their doctor. Immediately after the conclusion of the war he returned to AUB to finish his medical studies and was awarded Doctor of Medicine diploma in 1917.

• 1917-1930 Dr. Kassir returned to Iraq to start a family and practice medicine in Mosul and the surrounding villages.

• After moving to Baghdad with his family in 1930 and in addition to his practice he served as Chief Medical Doctor for Baghdad Prison.

• 1932-1934 Dr, Kassir completed and was awarded the diploma as specialist in pediatrics in London, England.

• Dr. Kassir co-founded the Iraqi Children’s Protection Society and a foundation to support children causes throughout Iraq.

• 1940 he founded and directed The Children Protection Society Hospital, the first pediatric hospital in Iraq with 100 beds and an outpatient clinic treating more than 500 children daily. He was then invited to become Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics of the newly founded Baghdad School of Medicine.

• 1946-1950 Dr. Kassir was elected an independent member of the Iraqi Parliament representing his home district of Mosul. His campaign slogan was: I LEAD THE WAR ON POVERTY, IGNORANCE AND DESEASE. He always reminded his constituents that he was not a politician but a doctor.

• He was honored with many awards and distinctions such as the Gold Medal by the Iraqi Children’s Protection Society and the Queen Mother gold watch for publishing MOTHER’S GUIDE TO CHILDCARE, which became a textbook most sought after by healthcare providers, practioners and students. After retirement he received a very special honor from the Republic of Iraq, the Ministry of Health and the Iraqi Medical Society for his lifetime achievements and dedication to the wellbeing of Iraqi children. He cherished the honor as he was escorted to the podium by his eldest child Dr. Khalida Kassir, a pediatrician, who trained along side her father

• Until his retirement at a very late age he remained in private practice often treating the needy and the poor for free at his beloved clinic attached to his residence so he can be with his extended family and watching his children and grandchildren grow.

• Dr. Abdulla Sulaiman Kassir died peacefully on June 2, 1978 surrounded by his loving family.